brandish

/ˈbrændɪʃ/

/ˈbrændɪʃ/

Other forms: brandishing; brandished; brandishes

To brandish something is to wave it about aggressively, as one might brandish a sword or tennis racket (if it's a particularly intense game).

Brandish often implies that a person is wielding a physical weapon. In fact, brandish comes from the archaic French word brandir, meaning "sword." However, it’s also possible to brandish objects that aren’t weapons. If you win a bowling tournament, for example, you might be inclined to brandish your shiny new trophy in front of the other competitors. Be careful, though; they might mistake your trophy for a "brandir" and respond accordingly.

Definitions of brandish

1. verb

   move or swing back and forth
   synonyms: flourish, wave

   types:

   wigwag

   send a signal by waving a flag or a light according to a certain code

   type of:

   displace, move

   cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense
2. verb

   exhibit aggressively
   “brandish a sword”

   type of:

   display, exhibit, expose, showcase

   show; make visible or apparent
3. noun

   the act of waving
   synonyms: flourish

   type of:

   wafture, wave, waving

   the act of signaling by a movement of the hand